Consumer Sciences Career Services Center
The First Year on the Job
As Ed Holton points out in his article "The Critical First Year on the Job" in Planning Job Choices: 1999, "You need to recognize that the first year on a new job is a separate and distinct career stage. It is a transition stage; you're not a college student anymore, but - and this may surprise you - you're not really a professional yet, either."
During your first year you must prove your value to the organization and you must gain the respect of your peers.
Holton lists several strategies for making the first year a success:
- Slow down.
- Learn the culture.
- Manage a good impression.
- Keep your personal life in order.
- Work smarter, harder, and faster.
- Demonstrate and document value-added.
- Welcome change.
- Commit to lifelong learning.
- Look for leadership opportunities.
- Communicate openly and directly.
- Remember that you are constantly being evaluated.
Probably the best advice for the first year is to leave office politics alone. Eventually you may want to develop mentor relationship with some member of management.
Overall, the key to a successful first year is to listen, learn, and gain experience.
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